Mahanayake of the Malwatta Chapter Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera has raised serious concerns that the proposed bridge linking Sri Lanka and India could intensify the smuggling of contraband goods and narcotics into the country.
The Chief Prelate issued the warning during a meeting with Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, who visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa for religious observances before receiving blessings from the Mahanayake Theras of both the Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters in view of the 74th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The Mahanayake Thera noted that large drug consignments had already been seized in recent operations and cautioned that if such narcotics infiltrated communities, the consequences could be disastrous.
He urged the government to engage with countries of origin and establish stronger preventive measures to curb international narcotics rackets.
Air Force Commander Edirisinghe, outlining the current threat, said fishing boats and trawlers are primarily used for smuggling operations, revealing that a Sri Lankan businessman based in Korea has been identified as a key figure in the racket. He added that ship-to-boat transfers take place deep at sea, while smaller quantities of drugs are smuggled by air.
He assured that the Air Force, Navy and Police Narcotics Bureau continue to conduct regular raids as part of a joint effort to dismantle the illegal trade.
